By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Olympiacos is getting ready for their third consecutive EuroLeague Final Four appearance, and before the trip to Berlin, coach Georgios Bartzokas spoke about his expectations.
Olympiacos has a chance to win three major European trophies in football, handball, and basketball as a club.
“Let’s hope we manage to win as many titles as possible for our team. Greeks know very well the magnitude of this team. What the passion this club and this jersey create for the fans means. How they affect their lives. I, who have quite a large sample of such people, know how happy they are with what the team has achieved. If we manage to win even one European title for the team this week, it will be very important. If we manage two or three, it will be something fantastic. Hopefully,” Bartzokas said.
He explained that everyone trained normally before the trip and that he should have a full squad at his disposal.
“You never know what can happen in sports. Surely we feel very happy and excited. I think all players should be ready to help the team. Even if we are not healthy, we will still be happy. Playing for the third consecutive year in the Final Four is a significant achievement for the club. To be among the top. Luck is also needed there, which we didn’t have in the past. Let’s hope we have it this year. In any case, it is a significant moment for everyone. We will look to enjoy it.”
Olympiacos will face Real Madrid in the Berlin semifinal, the top-seeded Regular Season team that defeated them twice narrowly. The reigning champions won last year’s final in the dying moments against the Piraeus team.
“In the game against Spain, we didn’t have Mustapha Fall and Nikola Milutinov, and then we lost Filip Petrusev to injury. McKissic had just returned from injury. This time the conditions differ from those we faced earlier in the season. I won’t talk about last year; I’ll only talk about this year. So, I believe they will encounter a different Olympiacos. I think they already know that. I think the team’s dynamic is significant because they have a benchmark, winning against Barcelona three times.”
The Greek team’s head coach also stated that he favors a Final Four-type tournament to end the season.
“Yes, I am in favor because I believe it is Europe’s most important basketball event. It involves a risk if the best team wins it. But it’s like the NCAA Final Four, which is the most significant basketball event in America. It’s the same in Europe. Everyone knows what it means. Participating in these two games is the most important,” Georgios Bartzokas concluded.
Larentzakis: “We go to claim the title; there is nothing less”
Olympiacos first-team player Giannoulis Larentzakis also shared his thoughts on the upcoming battle for the European trophy.
“There aren’t many thoughts. We go there even more experienced, more hungry to reach the end. Surely last year’s final with Real crosses our minds. But we have played against Real again this year. However, we know its strengths and weaknesses. We go there as a team, each sacrificing and giving everything to reach the final. The game is not easy,” said Larentzakis.
He also discussed whether defense or offense is more important when fighting for the title.
“It’s a combination, I believe. Surely, these games are won by the personalities. But the team can handle a difficult situation in the game and continue. But if the games are close in the end, it will be decided by the personalities of each team.”
His goals in Berlin are clear.
“The pressure is always there. However, pressure and stress should make you better and bring out your survival instinct. We go to claim the title; there is nothing less,” Larentzakis concluded.